The story

A young hiker whose body was found in northern Georgia was probably alive for three days before she died from blunt force trauma to the head, authorities said Tuesday.

Meredith Emerson, 24, was decapitated after her death, an autopsy also found.

Investigators believe she was killed January 4, said Lee Darragh, district attorney for Hall and Dawson counties. Read full article »

CNN's Mike Phelan and Tristan Smith contributed to this report.

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